140: The WD-40 CEO Who Proved Any Dumb-Ass Can Build a Great Culture | Garry Ridge
the Learn-It-All™ podcast · Damon Lembi
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Show Notes
Any Dumbass Leader Can Create an Exceptional Culture
Are your team members running out the door excited to come to work? If not, why?
Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of WD-40, joins Damon Lembi on The Learn-It-All Podcast to discuss how leaders can build high-trust, high-performance cultures where people feel valued and can learn, grow, and thrive. Drawing from his 25 years leading WD-40 and his new book Any Dumbass Can Do It, Garry shares how WD-40 achieved remarkable business results through people-first leadership. Under his guidance, the company expanded globally, grew market cap from $300 million to $3.5 billion, and maintained employee engagement above 90% - all while establishing a culture where 98% of employees loved telling others they worked there.
This Episode Covers:
- How reframing "failure" as "learning moments" became a cornerstone of WD-40's culture
- How leaders often protect their comfort zones at the expense of other people's development, limiting growth opportunities for their teams and organizations
- The power of purpose beyond your product
- Why the "Maniac Pledge" at WD-40 eliminated finger-pointing by establishing clear ownership.
- The importance of embracing "dumbassery" as your superpower.
Episode Highlights:
00:01 – Garry’s Leadership Journey at WD-40 – How he grew WD-40 into a global company with a thriving culture.
06:25 – The Four Pillars of a Friction-Free Culture – A framework for creating a high-trust, high-performance work environment.
12:18 – The Power of Learning Moments – Why reframing failures as learning opportunities builds innovation and engagement.
19:45 – Why Leaders Must Be Brave – How avoiding tough conversations protects a leader’s comfort zone at the expense of team growth.
28:30 – How Culture Becomes a Competitive Advantage – Why organizations with high engagement outperform those that ignore workplace culture.
33:50 – Balancing Remote and In-Person Work – How to bring employees back together meaningfully without eroding trust.
46:06 – Final Takeaways: Building a People-First Culture – How leaders can foster belonging, accountability, and long-term success.
About Garry:
Garry Ridge is the Chairman Emeritus of WD-40 Company, where he served as CEO for 25 years, building a renowned culture of learning and empowerment. He teaches in the University of San Diego's Master of Science in Executive Leadership program, sharing his expertise on corporate culture principles. Ridge has co-authored Helping People Win at Work with Ken Blanchard and recently published Any Dumb Ass Can Do It (2025). Calling himself "The Culture Coach" and more recently "The Dean of Dumbassery,” Gary runs his consulting business "The Learning Moment" where he coaches CEOs and helps leaders create environments where employees make meaningful contributions, learn continuously, and go home happy.
Resources Referenced:
The Learning Moment - Garry's website
Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It: Learning Moments from an Everyday CEO of a Multi-Billion-Dollar Company by Garry Ridge
Helping People Win at Work: A Business Philosophy Called "Don't Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A" by Garry Ridge and Ken Blanchard
What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
To Be Honest: Lead with the Power of Truth, Justice and Purpose by Ron A. Carucci
Podcast Contact Information
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: [email protected]